Voters in Mizoram have begun casting their ballots to determine whether three-time Chief Minister Zoramthanga will secure a fourth term or if a new party will take control of the state. A total of 174 candidates are vying for seats in the Mizoram assembly election.
Zoramthanga’s leadership has been marked by his decision to welcome over 40,000 refugees who fled from the junta rule in Myanmar. This humanitarian gesture is expected to garner support from the Mizos in an election year. However, Zoramthanga’s opponents in the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) argue that his policy on Myanmar refugees is merely a political survival tactic.
Despite the positive response to his refugee policy, Zoramthanga faces concerns from Mizos who worry about the long-term implications on land and resources due to the MNF’s stance on refugees. Mizoram has been openly accepting thousands of Myanmar refugees, even though India is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention.
The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), a new party, is hoping to unseat Zoramthanga. Its leader, Lalduhoma, stated that people are tired of the Chief Minister and his party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), and are seeking change and an end to corruption.
Voting in all 1,276 polling stations across Mizoram began at 7 am and will continue until 4 pm. The votes will be counted on December 3. Some polling stations, including those located along the interstate and international borders, have been designated as critical and vulnerable.
To ensure a peaceful election, the 510-km-long international border with Myanmar and the 318-km boundary with Bangladesh have been sealed. The Assam Rifles is in charge of managing the Myanmar border, while the Border Security Force (BSF) is responsible for the international border with Bangladesh. The interstate boundaries with three districts of Assam, two with Manipur, and one with Tripura have also been closed.
Chief Electoral Officer Madhup Vyas expressed confidence in maintaining the tradition of peaceful elections in Mizoram. He stated that most polling personnel and electronic voting machines (EVMs) have already arrived at their designated booths. Spare EVMs and technicians are available to address any technical issues, and the law and order situation is being closely monitored.
In terms of candidates, Zoramthanga’s MNF, the main opposition party ZPM, and the Congress have fielded 40 candidates each. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are contesting in 23 and four seats, respectively, while 27 candidates are running as independents.
